Dave Byrnes' Adventures

Appalachian Trail - 1986
Overview     Map     Diary     Pictures
Day: 110
Date: Wednesday, 20 August 1986.
Start:  
Finish:  
Daily AT Miles: 24.4
Daily Other Miles 0
Total AT Miles: 2116.2
Total All Miles 2174.2
Weather: Warm, mostly sunny.
Accommodation:  
Nutrition: Breakfast: Muesli, health drink.
Lunch: Biscuits and peanut butter, candy bars.
Dinner: Noodles, instant pudding.
Aches: None bad.
Animals Seen: Pheasant, 3 snakes, 2 moose.
People Seen: 10 overnight hikers.
Pictures: Here
GPS Track:  
Journal: Got up at 5am after a good night’s sleep and set out at 6:30am for Potaywadjo Spring Hut, six miles away.  The skies were relatively clear so we were hopeful of a better day.  The Trail continued through mossy forest with an incredible variety of mushrooms and toadstools – all shapes, sizes and colours – as had been the case the last few days.  The Trail was rough, boggy in parts, and covered in roots.  At Potaywadjo Spring Lean-To there was a magnificent spring with bubbling sand as the water (cold and clear) bubbled up.  We then decided to go for Wadleigh Stream Lean-To for lunch in two sections.  The Trail conditions remained the same and it passed by some more beautiful lakes.  At one point, the Trail actually went along the narrow rocky shore of the lake.  I slipped into the water twice.  We had lunch at about 1:40pm at the pleasant Lean-To.  Jerry was having a lot of trouble with one of his boots that was falling apart, and was tying it together with string and tape but it kept coming apart under the strain of the rough Trail.  We only had eight miles to our target shelter, Rainbow Stream Lean-To, but were both tired and weren’t looking forward to the miles which included Mount Nesuntabunt (~2000’), the last mountain before Katahdin.  Jerry seemed to have decided he was going to accompany me to the end.  I would have preferred to hike alone but don’t want to be rude and he’s a likeable bloke – we get on OK.  We set out up the mountain and stopped at the top for a great view of the forests, lakes and Mount Katahdin (the northern end of the AT) for the first time.  The summit was covered in cloud.  We descended from the mountain to Crescent Pond and, as we were walking along the edge, Jerry spotted a moose feeding in the shallows about 30 yards offshore.  We both got pictures before it was scared off.  We then saw it had a calf with it.  The last four miles dragged, but we eventually reached the pretty shelter by the stream in a little valley.  We had it to ourselves.  I had a double portion of noodles (because I hadn’t cooked the two previous nights) and, after dinner, enjoyed two cups of hot chocolate whilst musing over the trip and its looming end.  I felt a bit melancholy.  Went to bed at about 9pm.

ADVENTURE LIST

 

Round Ireland
(2016)

Hume & Hovell Walking Track
(2013)

Via Alpina
(2012)

Australian Alps Walking Track
(2011)

Land's End to John O'Groats
(2010)

Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2009)

Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2008)

Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2007)

Australia Tip to Top MTB
(2006)

Adelaide to Darwin MTB
(2005)

Sydney to Melbourne MTB
(2004)

Three Peaks Race
(2004)

Appalachian Trail
(1986)

Alpine Track
(1983)

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